India at home, Can anyone Beat them??
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2019 11:23 pm
India have now won 11 Test series at home in a row, a new record. I'd say they're at the peak of their powers now as well and could probably beat England & South Africa away after beating Australia and the Windies away in recent times. But the question I'm asking is can anyone beat them in their own back yard??
Australia beat them in 2004 which was labelled the 'final frontier' by Steve Waugh, since then England have beaten them once as well but I can't remember anyone else doing so?? Looking at the current Test Nations around the world right now I really can't see who could possibly beat them in the near future.
Obviously the non sub-continent sides will always struggle although considering Pakistan can't tour India and Sri Lanka are still very much trying to rebuild, either Australia or England would have to be the best chance to do so??
Australia actually ran them very close last time they toured, they won the first Test with Steve O'Keefe taking 12 wickets before they lost the 2nd, drew the 3rd and lost the 4th. I feel that series was a massive missed opportunity for Australia after winning the first Test they had their chances in the 2nd and failed to capitalise on batting first against a Kolhi-less India. It's hard to imagine they'll ever face India with Kohli in such bad form either, I still believe he was fit enough to play the 4th Test, but knew he wasn't mentally in shape to play.
Australia have a really good spinner in Nathan Lyon who's toured India twice and had success, O'Keefe is probably finished now so they'd need to find another spinner to go with Garry, Jon Holland is average and Ashton Agar has really bottomed out so they'll need to find another spinner before they tour next. Batting wise Steve Smith is a brilliant player of spin, you can lock him in for 100 if India produce the same type of decks they have been of late, finding him help is a concern though as the rest of the Australian batsman struggle to play spin usually.
They also need to find a way for their seamers to be more effective in India, the Indian seamers always seem to find some reverse so surely Cummins, Hazlewood and co. should be able to find the same.
England probably have the bowlers to cause India some headaches but their batting is the big issue, they beat Sri Lanka 3-0 only last year which shows they can play in the sub-continent, but they've really struggled in Tests ever since. If they can get Rashid and Moeen bowling well again they'll have a spin attack who can take wickets plus their seamers will find the reverse better than Australia IMO. Batting is the big issue, they'd need Joe Root and Ben Stokes to have really big series.
Australia beat them in 2004 which was labelled the 'final frontier' by Steve Waugh, since then England have beaten them once as well but I can't remember anyone else doing so?? Looking at the current Test Nations around the world right now I really can't see who could possibly beat them in the near future.
Obviously the non sub-continent sides will always struggle although considering Pakistan can't tour India and Sri Lanka are still very much trying to rebuild, either Australia or England would have to be the best chance to do so??
Australia actually ran them very close last time they toured, they won the first Test with Steve O'Keefe taking 12 wickets before they lost the 2nd, drew the 3rd and lost the 4th. I feel that series was a massive missed opportunity for Australia after winning the first Test they had their chances in the 2nd and failed to capitalise on batting first against a Kolhi-less India. It's hard to imagine they'll ever face India with Kohli in such bad form either, I still believe he was fit enough to play the 4th Test, but knew he wasn't mentally in shape to play.
Australia have a really good spinner in Nathan Lyon who's toured India twice and had success, O'Keefe is probably finished now so they'd need to find another spinner to go with Garry, Jon Holland is average and Ashton Agar has really bottomed out so they'll need to find another spinner before they tour next. Batting wise Steve Smith is a brilliant player of spin, you can lock him in for 100 if India produce the same type of decks they have been of late, finding him help is a concern though as the rest of the Australian batsman struggle to play spin usually.
They also need to find a way for their seamers to be more effective in India, the Indian seamers always seem to find some reverse so surely Cummins, Hazlewood and co. should be able to find the same.
England probably have the bowlers to cause India some headaches but their batting is the big issue, they beat Sri Lanka 3-0 only last year which shows they can play in the sub-continent, but they've really struggled in Tests ever since. If they can get Rashid and Moeen bowling well again they'll have a spin attack who can take wickets plus their seamers will find the reverse better than Australia IMO. Batting is the big issue, they'd need Joe Root and Ben Stokes to have really big series.